Exercises for Playing Bends
Here's the most important thing to remember when trying to get your bends right — if they are not clear and in control, then you haven't got it yet. Each note needs to sound correct, meaning that it's bent to exactly the right degree, and to accomplish this your breath needs to be right on target. Try to get every bend you can out of your harmonicas and develop them as you continue to learn and practice.
The Bendometer Playing System is an interesting piece of shareware that uses a software program and a microphone connected to your computer to teach you how to play accurate bends. The program works like a tuner and shows you the notes you're playing on the computer screen. Find it at
Try each bend going from the 1 hole to the 10 hole, and once you get one you can keep trying to get the others. Your patience and practice will eventually reward you with a much bigger musical vocabulary. The harmonica is an easy instrument to play, but it takes a lifetime to master. Practice the exercises on Tracks 19 and 20 until they become second nature to you.
Exercise 1 for Playing Bent Notes
In this exercise we'll be hitting half-step bends on holes 1, 3, 4, and 5.
FIGURE 5-12: Exercise for playing bends 1
TRACK 19
Exercise 2 for Playing Bent Notes
It is extremely important that you get the 2-draw bend — it is a whole-step bend, and it must be clean every single time for you to get the resolution of your cross-harp songs.
FIGURE 5-13: Exercise for playing bends 2
TRACK 20
Next, Chapter 6 will look at the rhythmic accompaniment that supports harmonica playing, and how to interact with it.
